​Hello :D It's another beautiful ThursYAY!!​How are you doing? I hope it's been a terrific week so far!! I got the stitches taken out from my eyelids today and I'm smiling from ear to ear...lol! Those thread-ish babies were not much fun :D I even got permission to start walking outside, so as soon as I'm done posting here, I'm putting on my Nikes and going for a long walk ;)

​It's the time of year again when the weather changes and despite your best efforts, you get that tickle in your throat, that hot, yucky feeling, or a full-blown cold that requires lots of tissue. An average person can get a common cold 2 to 3 times a year. Who wants the misery? Not me! Not this year!! The following are a few ways to avoid catching a cold!!!

- Keep Up Your Workouts!​Research suggests that people who exercise at least 5 times a week get colds less often then those who have an "on again" and "off again" relationship with activity. Moderate workouts may give your immune system a boost and it's possible that this could help keep colds away. However...be smart! No need to push yourself if your body is showing symptoms of a cold!!

​- Wash Up! ​We know that hand washing is 1 of the best ways to avoid getting sick. According to 1 study, only 65% of women and fewer men (sorry guys) wash their hands after using a public restroom. To help skip colds, you need to scrub up then and plenty of other times. Like before eating and when you're near coughers. I NEVER leave my house without a bottle of hand sanitizer in my purse! My kids give me a hard time about this, but that's just fine with me...lol :D

​- Try A Water Trick!​Gargle with tap water for a minute. Researchers in Japan found that people who did this 3 times a day (or more) caught fewer colds. No kidding! If they did come down with something, some symptoms were milder then in those who didn't gargle. No harm in putting salt in the water if you wish, but no need to ;)

​- Take A Breather!​When people kept up a daily practice of mindfulness meditation, they set aside time to pay attention to what was happening in the moment. They took 76% fewer sick days due to colds, according to research in the Annals of Family Medicine. It could be because meditation helps lower stress, which may allow your immune system to respond better to achy invaders. I do meditate, but this is 1 of my goals to do more consistently starting next year! To the guys who don't meditate...give it a try...you may actually enjoy it!!

​- Head To Bed!​It's no secret that sleep is important. Turn the lights out early. People who get less then 7 hours of rest a night are almost 3 times as likely to develop a cold then people who get 8 or more hours. However...too much sleep isn't good either...lol! I like to go to bed early and wake up early!!

​No need to get stuffed up with a cold this year...adopt these strategies and you may be able to sidestep the misery altogether! Yes, please!!​Enjoy the rest of your week! Be productive!! See you right back here on Monday!!!​Bye :D